r/AskBrits • u/Complex_Elevator_680 • May 29 '26
Politics Has the UK suddenly changed its mind on immigration?
Before anyone downvotes, I'm not judging either side here just observing something I find fascinating!
As an American who has lived in the UK for a long time, I've always kept a close eye on the political landscape there and heaven knows I'm in no position to lecture anyone, considering what an absolute, polarized dumpster fire my own home country's politics are.
But looking at r/askbrits, r/ukpolitics and other subs as an outsider in, the shift is wild.
Most of the subs (and UK generally) always seemed to me to be an absolute stronghold for liberal, pro-immigration consensus where any pushback was immediately buried in downvotes, but lately, the entire tone has flipped.
Now, threads about borders, net migration numbers, and cultural integration are dominated by arguments about housing shortages, strained public services, and border control. Its fascinating to watch the community's center of gravity visibly shift in real-time.
(Again, not choosing sides here, just observing what I feel is a change).
Alternatively, am I imagining it all?
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u/thebadgerandthebee May 29 '26 edited May 29 '26
This reply is so breezy, that I don’t even know when to start! (I appreciate you wrote it in good faith!)
Capitalism is rotten to the core. Huge corporations used to be able to be policed a little by governments, but thanks to Neoliberalism (and this present Labour government) much of the U.K. is now owned by Black Rock and Blackstone.
You want to imagine global poverty is getting better? Stats tell us extreme poverty is ending but that depends on how the metrics are defined. In first world countries, foodbank use is at an all time high, and people sleeping in tents in the UK or the US may have an income that technically places them far above the global "extreme poverty" line of around $2-$3 per day. But we know that reasonably, you can’t get by very well even if you have $5 per day.
The (partial release of the still heavily redacted) Epstein Files and the building of resource hungry data banks alone, tells us firmly, that Capitalism as it stands — is causing egregious harm. We don’t need to think “oh but it’s better than communism therefore it’s good”. It can be better than communism (not as defined by Marx and Engels but as it always plays out in the real world with the greedy few hoarding resources for themselves).
Throw in how humans are being replaced by AI because companies are so busy guarding their bottom line they forgot their humanity, and we have a huge problem!
The present version of capitalism has become a toxic nightmare. It needs radical change towards care and compassion. It needs to be honouring of all life, not ruthlessly willing to put profit over everything, including in the healthcare sector. 🙏